THE HAGUE, NETHERLAND - A delegation from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor held bilateral talks with the Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands, PYT Datuk Nadzirah Osman, at the Malaysian Embassy in The Hague, recently.
The discussion focused on the strategic partnership between UMS and higher education institutions in the country in the fields of water resource management, smart agriculture, oil and gas and commercialization of products through synergistic cooperation between universities, government and industry.
According to Kasim, among the universities in the Netherlands that have been identified as potential strategic partners of UMS include IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Leiden University and Delft University of Technology.
He said that the universities have strengths and advantages that can be a source of reference to UMS in their respective fields of expertise.
"IHE Delft Institute for Water Education has expertise in water resources management, Leiden University in smart agriculture research and biotechnology, and Delft University of Technology has produced various commercialization of products as a result of the research of their students and lecturers.
"Previously, UMS has had a relationship with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education as early as 2012 and this university is actively conducting joint research with Leiden University to produce a grouper fish vaccine for food security purposes.
"We also hope that cooperation will be forged with Delft University of Technology since UMS has a strategic plan to develop its own commercialization hub to help university students commercialize products resulting from research and innovation," he said.
At the discussion, Nadzirah also shared about the role of universities in the Netherlands that contribute towards the successful commercialization of products through funds and facilities provided by the industry.
It is seen as an effort to increase the competitive level as well as guarantee the sustainability of a product published by the university for the companies involved.
The bilateral discussion was also attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UMS, Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly and the Head of the Chancellery of the Malaysian Embassy to the Netherlands, Dr. Mohd. Norhisyam Mohd Yusof.
